Initial or insignia holder



May 27, s, CQHN INITIAL OR INSIGNIA HOLDER Filed June 16, 1948 INVENTOR. v SOLOMON C'OHN y BY W Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED- .24598557; INITIAL oit'INSIGNIA-HOLDERV Solomon Cohn, Flushing, N..Y., assignorto Louis Sli'akter, New. York', Y.

aplieatitn Jim-e is, 194s, seriaINn. 3132.1

2 claims. (ci. 11o-140) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in monogram jewelry..

Moreparticularly, the present invention proposes the construction of monogram jewelryhaving interchangeable letters, numerals, insignia and the like arranged in a manner to be securely mounted in a holder constituting or forming a part of an article of personal wear or use; such as a handbag, suitcase, a tie-clasp, a pendant for a tie-clasp, a wallet, a pin or brooch or the like.V

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and Valuable combination of such letters and the like, hereinafter called characters, and the holder in which said characters are to be mounted; wherein the holder is of simple, inexpensive andpracticable construction, and where in an improved means is provided, this partially carried by a characterand-partially carried by the holder, such that an ordinary clerk of .aretailer from whom the article is purchased may mount in the holder the plurality of characters selected by the purchaser, as those which are the initials of the names of the purchaser.

According tothe invention, this mounting of the selected characters in the holder, may be effected by said clerk easlyand quickly,'withthe characters arranged in the proper order, and so .as to be dependably retained in the holder, without' shifting, andyet with` the holder as finally supplemented with the selected characters having the appearance that the same was especially custom made throughout by a skilled jewelry artisan.

VStillanother object ofthe present invention proposes constructingthe holder in several'different ways with. diiferent means for securely holding the characters in position within the holder.

It is a further object of this ,invention to con- Structqmonogram jewelry which is simple and durable, easy to assemble and which may be manufacturedand sold at a'reasonable cost.

For, further comprehension ofthe invention. and of the Yobjectsand advantages. thereof, reference will behad to the -following Vdescription and accompanying drawings, and to lthe appended; claims; in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. In the; accompanying drawings forming a materialpartofthisdisclosure: A

Fi`g. v1 is a front elevational view'of'monogram jewelry constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 showstheholder ofFig. 1 in rearperspective, with the lockingy element thereof omitted.

Fig. 3 is a'horizontal section, taken on the line 3`3Yof Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 isa perspective view ment per se.v l

Fig. LiA-is a rear elevational view of the locking element.

Fig, 4BA is an end elevational view of the locking-element. Y 1

Fig. 5 is a perspective View, on a somewhat enlarged scale, showing one of the .characters in of the locking eiecluded in the group thereof. illustrated in Fig-.1.

Fig. Gisan endelevationt of said character, lookingtowardtheright in F ig. 5.A

Fig; 7 isa .view similar to Fig. 5, but showing another of the vcharacters in the said group thereof. c

Fig; 8 isarear elevationalview of Fig. 1-.' Fig.'9gis anenlarged fragmentary horizontal sectiontaken On-the liner9-9of Fig.l8.

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modified lockingrelement. Fig. 11V is a similar view, showing a further modiedvlocking element.

Fig. 12y isj a, rear perspective view, showing another embodiment; of the present invention.

Fig. l13 is fa-view. similar to Fig. 6 of acharacter like lthat shown in the vlatter view, but modified in conformity with the holder of Fig. 12, and with the cooperatin'gparts of said holder indicated in dot and dash lines. Fig. 14 shows in perspectivethe. rear side of a holder constituting still another modification' of the invention. y y

Fig. 15 is a fragrnerltary vertical sectional View takenon-the line l5-I5 of Fig. l4.

The monogram-jewelry, according `to the form of the-invention'shown in Figs. 1 to-Q includes-a holder 42l! which is, by way ofillustration, inthe form of ,aquadrilateral frame,l and is provided with, apertured ears 2l for suspension of the holder as from achain orthe like. The presence, or the placementif present, lof said ears, as well also as the shape and dimensions of said frame, are yimmaterial tor` the invention. As will be understood, theframe may be emlgellishedV or finished Vin any way.A desired, so as to have decorative additions, such as areknown as marcasite ornamentations, orL otherwise. `The presentinvention, of course, has `todo withY structural features. vvThe holderishere shown, for example, as being elongated horizontally, t'l'ietwo long-sides thereof,

at their facing edges, are longitudinally grooved as at 22 and 23. Each of said grooves is of unform width and depth from end to end thereof. The groove 23, however, at a suitable point along the same, here shown as at a point about midway along the length of said groove, is interrupted by a recess 24 having concavely rounded oppositely facing undercut ends 24.

This recess 24 is for a locking element 25, which, as shown in Fig. 4, is normally longitudinally bowed or arched, and has convexly rounded beveled ends 26 matching the concavities of the ends 24 of the recess 24. To match the undercuttings at the ends 24 of the recess 24, said ends 26 of the element 25 are tapered laterallyy off the lines of curvature of said ends 2G, as shown best in Fig. 9, for a compound dovetailing lock with the undercut ends 24' of the recess 24 when, following insertion of the selected characters, the locking element 25, having been first applied as indicated in dot and dash lines 25' in Fig. 9, is forced to flat condition by the use of pliers or a similar tool, to lie iinally as shown in full lines in Fig. 9.

As shown in the case of the character 21 and in the case of the character 23, each character is provided with a top rib and a bottom rib; the top ribs of such characters, as shown best in Figs. 5-7, being respectively marked 21u and 28a, and the bottom ribs of such characters, as

shown best in the views last mentioned, being respectively marked 21T and 281. All the characters supplied will have ribs corresponding to said top and bottom ribs.

and the bottom rib of a character is to be entered into the groove 23. The bottom ribs 21D and 28b will be observed in Fig. 9 as in the groove 23; while what is seen in this view at 29" is the bottom rib of the character E (this marked 29 in Figs. 1 and 8) corresponding to the bottom ribs 21b and 28b of the characters 21 and 28.

The top ribs 21a and 28a and the bottom ribs 211 and 28h are of equal length and have their ends projected beyond the sides of their respective characters 21 and 28. When the characters 21 and 28 are in position in the holder 20, the projected ends of the ribs are adapted to abut one another so as to hold the characters evenly spaced in the holder 2U. It is appreciated that the recess 24 in the bottom portion of the holder will have to be of a suicient length to permit the bottom ribs 21J and 28b to be entered in the bottom groove 23 when the characters are being positioned in the holder 2D.

Assuming three characters are to be used in the holder 23, they may, with the locking element 25 not yet applied, be quickly and easily inserted into the holder. The procedure is, first, to insert the top rib 21z or 28a of one of the terminal characters 21 or 28 into the top groove 22, then lay the bottom rib 21b or 23b of that character in the portion of the bottom groove 23 aligned with the recess 24, and then slide said character to its appointed end of the holder. Next the other of said terminal characters 21 or 28 is entered at its top rib 21LI or 287L into the top groove, then the bottom rib 21b or 28b of that character is laid in the bottom groove 23 aligned with the recess, and that character is slid to its appointed end of the holder.

Following such insertion of both the terminal characters 21 and 28, the intermediate char- Cil The top rib of a' character is to be entered into the groove 22. :7'

acter 29 is similarly inserted, so that the last step in its insertion is the dropping of its bottom rib 291J into the bottom groove 23 aligned with the recess 24. Then all that is required is to apply the locking element 25 which is preferably made of a metal which will retain shapes into which it is forced.

In Fig, 10 there is shown a modified locking element 30, like the element 25, except that the former has straight ends and ends which also are not tapered. This locking element 30 is for use with a holder having a recess corresponding to the recess 24 but with straight non-undercut ends. According to this arrangement, the locking element 3|) will be of such a length that when flattened into said recess, as explained in ccnnection with the flattening into the recess 24 of the locking element 25, the locking element 3U will become frictionally wedge-locked into its said recess when brought to flatness with the rear of the holder.

In Fig. 11 there is shown a further modied form of locking element 3|, with straight ends as in the case of the locking element 38 but with these ends tapered as indicated at 32 and 33; this element for coaction with a recess corresponding to the recess 24 with straight ends, but with undercut ends as indicated in Figs. 2 and 9.

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, a holder 34 is shown which is like the holder 2|) except that the latters grooves 22 and 23 and recess 24 are omitted. Instead, two strips 35 and 35 of bendable metal, each here shown as U-shaped in cross-section. so as to present oppositely facing top and bottom grooves 31 and 38, yare soldered or otherwise suitably attached to the holder 34. Characters having suitable top and bottom ribs, such as those indicated at 39 and 40 in Fig. 13 as on the character represented at 4|, are strung between the strips35 and 36 with the ribs of said characters corresponding to the ribs 39 and 40 in the grooves 31 and 3B.

When all the several characters are thus in place between the strips 35 and 3B, the extreme ends of the outer iianges of said strips are bent or crimped inwardly to close oi the ends of the grooves 31 and 38.. As in the previous form of the invention, the ends of the ribs 39 and 40 project slightly beyond the side edges of the characters to engage the projecting ends of the ribs of an adjacent character to hold the characters evenly spaced in the holder 34.

Also, as will be noted from Fig. 13, the character 4| there shown has its top and bottom ribs 39 and 40 set nearer one face of the character than the other, so that there will be provided an extra-thickness portion of the main body of the character, as at 4W, for obtaining an extra top surface of the character to i'lt flatly against the bottom surface of the top side of the holder, and an extra bottom surface of the character to fit flatly against the top surface of the bottom side of the holder, al1 for assisting in maintaining the character squarely in place.

Referring tothe form of the invention shown in Figs.Y 14 and 15, a holder 43 is shown which is like the holder 2B except that, instead of a recess corresponding to the recess 24, a portion, here shown as an end portion, of one of the side walls participating in the formation of a groove 44 like the groove 23, is slit ai; 44 and 45, to provide a bendable leaf or lip 46. The holder 43, opposite the groove 44, has a top groove 41, see Fig. 15,

corresponding to the groove 22. With the lip 46 bent outward, as shown, a character having top and bottom ribs as in Figs. -7, may be set in the holder 43 by entering the top rib of said character into the groove 41, and then entering the bottom rib of said character into the groove 44 at the lip 48. I l l A With the lip positioned as just stated, the rst 'character entered into the holder 43 will be the 'character to be nally at the end of the holder remote from the lip 46, and the last character thus entered into said holder will be the one to be finally at the end of the holder adjacent the lip 46. As soon as the several characters are thus entered into the holder 43, the lip 46 is pressed in, to bring it to flat condition with the remainder of the holder.

The lip 46, and also the locking elements, such as the elements 25, and 3|, would preferably be at the back of the holder.

While the holders shown on the drawing are the type provided with ears for engagement with the chain of a mans tie-clasp, key chain or similar article, this is by way of illustration only, as the holders of the present invention are equally adapted for use on pocket books, suitcases, golf bags and other similar articles where it is desired to have a monogrammed identification means.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. In a frame for enclosing separate characters having a longitudinal member formed with an inwardly facing groove bounded by spaced walls to receive ribs on the adjacent sides of the characters, one of the walls being formed with a recess of a length to permit the ribs to be passed into the groove, the material of the said one wall defining the ends of said recess being undercut, an elongated locking element for insertion into said recess, said locking element having its ends beveled matching the said undercutting and bowed lengthwise away from the longitudinal member, whereby said locking Velement after being fitted Number Name Date 177,202 Crandall et al May 9, 1876 380,199 Gemunden Mar. 27, 1888 417,446 Sands Dec. 17, 1889 480,255 Emmer Aug. 9, 1892 833,247 Sampson Oct. 16, 1906 1,384,912 McMahon July 19, 1921 1,994,686 Chernow Mar. 19, 1935 2,061,428 Kraemer Nov. 17, 1936 2,067,811 Baer Jan. 12, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 33,051 France Feb. 7, 1928 334,210 Great Britain Aug. 28, 1930 627,473 France June 11, 1927 into said recess can be pressed flat engaging its beveled ends` under the undercut end of the material of the said one wall.

2. In a frame for enclosing separate characters having a longitudinal member formed with an inwardly facing groove bounded by spaced walls to receive ribs on the adjacent sides of the characters, one of the walls being formed with a recess of a length to permit the ribs to be passed Into the groove, the material of the said one wall dening the ends of said recess being undercut, an elongated locking element for insertion into said recess, said locking element having its ends beveled matching the said undercutting and bowed lengthwise away from the longitudinal member, whereby said locking element after being fitted into said recess can be pressed at engaging its beveled ends under the undercut ends of the material of the said one wall, said recess being open to the longitudinal edges of the said one wall, the material of the said one wall being concavely rounded in the plane of the said one wall, said locking element having its ends convexly rounded in the plane of said locking element to t in the concavely rounded ends of the said one wall to hold said locking element against lateral movement out of said recess.

SOLOMON COI-IN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

